Remnant of a shell launched by ISIS militants on Hasakah, that caused suffocation cases among Kurdish civilians. The radical group is accused of using chemical agents in anti-Kurdish attacks northeast Syria. Photo: ARA News

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Hasakah, Syria – General Command of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) said in a statement on Saturday that Islamic State group (IS/ISIS) has used chemical weapons during attacks against Kurdish fighters and civilians in Hasakah, northeastern Syria.

The YPG leadership said that IS terrorists used chemical weapons against positions of the Kurdish units south of Tel Brak (45 km eastern Hasakah) end of June, as well as against civilians in Salihiya neighborhood in Hasakah.

The statement added that the Kurdish fighters were able to document the gas attacks through video tapes and testimonies of people that have been injured during the attacks.

“The quality of the toxic chemical used by Daesh (IS) hasn’t been verified yet. The investigations are still ongoing,” the statement continued.

“On June 28, a number of shells, which emitted yellow gas with a strongly rotten odor, dropped on Salihiya district in the city of Hasakah by the terrorist group. The toxic bombs turned into yellow color after exposure to sun, while liquid oily green spots were seen on ground,” according to the YPG General Command.

The YPG’s leadership pointed out that its fighters were exposed to sever burns and suffocation.

The YPG Kurdish forces revealed they captured dozens of anti-gas masks from IS insurgents in the past four weeks, which confirms that they are equipped for chemical warfare along battle’s front lines.

“The investigation is ongoing on the IS use of chemical weapons, with the support of an international team of experts from SAHAN institution for studies on armed conflicts,” the YPG’s statement concluded.

Local sources from Salihiya and al-Mufti districts in Hasakah told ARA News that more than 20 mortar shells hit their areas, causing suffocation among dozens of civilians.

A doctor from a field hospital in Hasakah told ARA News that the shells most likely contained chlorine gas.